Bend, OR

There are few places in the world that offer 360-degree skiing around a steep volcanic peak—Mount Bachelor is one of them. Down the front of the mountain are wide bowls and tree-bordered trails, around the back are vast open snowfields. Above the tree line (up to 9,000 feet), are chutes, ...

Bellingham, WA

Mt. Baker is one ski hill whose boundary signs command respect. It's set in steeply rugged wilderness country blanketed by a few hundred inches of snow on the shoulders of Mount Shuksan. The actual Mount Baker, a 10,778-foot volcano, is a few miles to the west.

The 1,000-acre resort ...

Government Camp, OR

When it comes to powder and steeps, Skibowl courts the connoisseur on both counts. During the day, Skibowl, the closest resort to Portland, offers the most challenging lift-accessed terrain on Mount Hood. While the wide-open slopes and narrow chutes of the Upper Bowl are winch-cat groomed, the ...

Reno, NV

The drive to Mount Rose from Lake Tahoe can be hellacious in bad weather, traversing the highest pass (at 8,900 feet) in the area. And when you get there, the base facilities form an outpost only slightly more impressive than Ice Station Zebra. But what Rose does deliver is a pretty neat ...

Mt. Hood, OR

Mount Hood, elevation 11,249 feet, is an inverted catch basin for Pacific storms trying to cruise over the Cascades. It offers four different ski areas around its base, but among these the east-facing Mt. Hood Meadows is the finest. It's one of those rare resorts that skiers from elsewhere ...

Truckee, CA

Look at the trail map, and it might seem as though there is relatively little beginner terrain. But trust me—most of the intermediate runs at Northstar ski more like novice runs, and most of the advanced runs ski like intermediate runs. I've heard north-shore locals deride Northstar, ...

Park City, UT

Appearances can deceive—from the parking lot of Park City Mountain Resort, the main allure appears to be the massive half pipe, which dwarfs the surrounding mountain, a lazy-looking stretch of rolling hills interlaced with lifts. Don't be fooled, however. Hop on the King Con high-speed quad ...

Eden, UT

Powder Mountain has become a refuge of sorts for Little Cottonwood Canyon skiers looking to escape the crowds and find fresh snow for more than two hours into a powder day. And you can find it even faster now that the double chairlift at Hidden Lake has been replaced with a high-speed quad. ...

Twin Bridges, CA

With trails cutting through dense evergreen forests, Sierra at Tahoe evokes images of its sister resort—Northstar—only Sierra has a slightly steeper pitch. The compact base area and no-frills, laid-back atmosphere (as exemplified by its motto, "Just Chill") also make Sierra, like ...

Huntsville, UT

Given that Snowbasin hosted the downhill, super-G, and combined events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, it's not as if this place is a big secret. But you'd be forgiven for thinking that as you barrel down yet another deserted slope with bluebird skies up high, the sun shining down, and perfect ...